24 {Stefan}

[Victoria Kelly]

Passing speeds well over 100MPH, the black car finally deposited Victoria at the gates of Midnight. Her bones were healing well enough, though a finger still sat crookedly. As she limped into the lobby, she bit her lip and re-broke it, trying to guide the healing process in the correct direction. She had another moment of panic as she realized her gun was on her, and as she patted herself down, she sighed. It must've fallen into the alley somewhere, or even into the car. Good. That was the absolute last thing she needed.

She proceeded forward, as elegantly as she could, which was somewhat difficult considering she was more pale than usual. She'd never experienced nervousness before, not like this. She was shaking like a leaf, and she wrapped her arms around herself, covering her thin violet blouse with her blood-stained hands as she attempted to make sense of her situation. She'd been found, obviously. The Serpiente king had either garnered the use of the police or they'd taken it upon themselves, but either way, her flight in the city was over. She was staying within the walls of Midnight for as long as it would take her to make arrangements out of the country, and preferably to some remote island somewhere with NO Serpiente.

She glanced up as a familiar face rounded the corner, and her smile did not meet her eyes. Damn vampires. She knew he'd see right through it, and so the smile faded, replaced simply by the worries of a Viper on the run, which was precisely what she was.

"Stefan," she greeted him, nodding her head a little. She retained her dignity, despite her situation. Appearing weak within these walls would land her a cell next to the future Naga, no doubt. She could not afford it.

[Stefan]

Stefan paid rather close attention to things in the human world, and connections in Single Earth were actually proving more useful than he expected.  It seemed the Serpiente Diente had put out a call for Victoria Kelly's head, preferably still attached to her body so that he could remove it himself.  Stefan essentially expected the man to torture the information out of her regarding the taipan and the child, then skin her and execute her.  That had always been Serpiente tradition, though he knew some of them had gone soft since then.  Not this one.  If Victoria were to be captured, she wouldn't be the first kidnapper for Midnight to have been skinned and executed by the Diente, and the first had actually been the man's kin.  Stefan had heard that Cobriana had been rather satisfied with the last execution, but the former Nazi really wasn't surprised.  With what he'd heard of that creature, he'd have been satisfied to kill it, as well.

Victoria was another story.  She wasn't some monstrous cobra rapist abusing individuals that Stefan would have actually paid good money for.  The cougar that had gone to Celeste?  Blond, blue-eyed and young enough to teach the proper way of things, with a delightful form and a good, strong body.  There was no reason for the trauma and abuse that one had suffered, not at the hands of a barbaric monster, and not that.  Stefan truly had no tolerance for rapists.

She knew of him, which was also a point of interest.  If Cobriana took her and tortured her, Stefan didn't know what she'd say.  He'd seen Tsunai after she was kidnapped, which meant that his name may come up, even though he hadn't actually had anything further to do with it.  Strange things happened during torture, he knew that from experience, and his mind-reading skills weren't things that the cobra possessed.  He wasn't being blamed for the kidnapping. 

Thus, there was a touch of self-preservation there, along with his general fondness for Victoria, that pushed him along in this venture. 

"Ah, Victoria.  You don't look well, come with me," he told her, offering her his hand.  She'd have to take it, but he would take her to his rooms and have her cared for.  "Please, tell me what's happened to put you in this state."

He could pull it from her mind, and would, but he wanted to hear what she'd say.  Thoughts and words so often contradicted each other.

[Victoria Kelly]

Stefan had either been well-versed or he was reading Victoria's thoughts, because she was currently trying to shove the idea of being skinned out of her mind. She'd seen it happen before - though not by the Diente, of course, but by others who were a little more liberal with their punishments of that severity. White Vipers didn't take kindly to anyone trying to mess with the things they'd achieved and built, especially not any who were as successful in such a dangerous venture as the slave trade. It was too bad that she couldn't go to the others she knew for help, but she wouldn't lead the Cobra King to them, ever. He'd eradicate them all, and it wasn't like they weren't already horribly rare.

When Stefan began ushering her to his quarters to get cleaned up, she didn't seem to protest - or she couldn't get out anything acceptable as a firm denial of his request/command. At the moment, she wasn't getting much of anything out. Her finger had healed wrong again, and with a surprised and quite angry shriek as she walked, she reached out and broke two of them, clenching her teeth together so hard that she could feel it in her brain. She firmly held them in place, forcing them to set correctly. She seemed almost not aware of Stefan's presence for a few minutes; it wasn't until the caretaker had held her hands and began cleaning the rocks and other things out of them from her fall into the alley that she spoke -- and that was to get the pain off of her mind.

"I've been careful for over ten years who I bought and who I sold, the when's and the where's, and now because of that man's mongrel fiancee and the abomination growing in her, he's combing the city for me. I came here to lay my head a few days and then to retreat further into the world, but I don't know how much time I've got. He's got the police looking for me now. I was attacked by a vampire at my own apartment building. I tried to shoot him, but I don't even know if I hit him, I just jumped out the window," she said, wiggling her hands as the caretaker nodded and muttered something about hating how she had to dig glass out of healed wounds.

Victoria winced a little, but turned back to Stefan. "The problem is, even though I've got money, the Cobra isn't going to stop. I've a mind to go down there and put a bullet in that worthless piece of carcass myself just for all the trouble I'm in. I doubt they're going to show me any mercy even if I don't kill her, and anyways, it'll be worth it," she hissed, venom nearly pooling in her mouth as she said it. Her green eyes were ablaze, as light as peridots and bright, like a green glass bottle with sunlight directly on it. "I've got to get my things and get the Hell out of here, either way, but they wouldn't be stupid enough to try and come here..." she trailed off.

No, of course not. That would have brought down the wrath of a thousand gods, specifically Jeshickah, who was all the god that anyone at Midnight needed. She wouldn't take kindly to anyone just traipsing in and ruining her brand-new home, Victoria was sure of it. "No," she said again, shaking her head. "No, it's ludicrous to think that. Nobody would be dumb enough for that."

[Stefan]

Stefan grabbed a slave and had them send for a doctor before they even arrived at his quarters, so the woman was there within moments to care for Victoria's wounds.  He would have done it himself, and knew how to, but what was the purpose?  He would save that for emergencies, which were rare.  Besides, the first few moments of silence gave him time to tend to Desten while Victoria was being seen to.  He knew his Golden Hawk's temperament and personality wouldn't appreciate another beautiful blond woman being permitted in his quarters for anything other than slave labor, and though he didn't tolerate disrespect of himself from Desten or base his decisions around her whims, he didn't go out of his way to displease her.  He actually enjoyed her.

Desten, we have a visitor, make yourself presentable and come meet her, please.  She's a friend of mine, he projected at the Hawk with what would pass for a 'mild' tone.  Unbothered.

In the meantime, Victoria went on to complain about her situation, which Stefan couldn't blame her for.  He thought the Diente was a hassle as well, but he wasn't subject to the man's laws.  Victoria could say that she wasn't, but from the looks of things, she seemed to be. 

"No, it would be suicidal for them to attack you here.  I make no guarantees about anywhere else, considering I don't know how far your Diente's power reaches, but I see no way that you would be anything but safe from him within these walls," he assured her.  Of course, being safe from Cobriana and any of his allies didn't mean that she was safe from everyone.  Stefan wouldn't deny that possessing her would be delightful, which really made him a rather risky ally.  She didn't have many other options presently, though.

[Desten DuPont]

Desten had been doing whatever it was she spent her time doing, which no doubt involved preening and thinking about Stefan - He was her entire world, so why shouldn't she dedicate most of her waking thoughts to Him? She couldn't dedicate them all of course - she had to be able to function. She rose with a small sigh at His command - wistful enough. She knew that she shouldn't get jealous of other people whom her Master chose to surround Himself with; rather, she should feel pleased that He feels them worthy to enjoy and bask in His attentions for a while.

Giving her golden feathered wings a final gloss, she walked out of the room He had provided for her, tossing back arrow-straight strands of long hair. She was tall, impossibly so, with brilliant wings that nestled against her back. Her Master requested that she stay in demi-form for as long as possible, and so she did.

She glanced to Stefan before she even looked at the woman who was being tended to, but when she finally did remove her gaze from Him, she had to stop her mouth from opening slightly. What? She was filled with indescribable rage for a moment, but it was brief and passed quickly as the calm of her teachings filled her with serenity. Why, of course she would be beautiful, for why would her Master want to surround Himself with ugly things? Desten could not help but feel a little smug, however; She was still Master's pet, and this woman was just a friend.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss," Desten said, voice perfectly feminine and pitched in a calm tone. She stood exactly three steps behind Stefan, and did not move a muscle until He gestured for her to come forward.

[Victoria Kelly]

Victoria only gritted her teeth as the woman wrapped a fresh bandage around her hand; everyone knew well it wouldn't be necessary, but Victoria's healing had been stunted by the constant re-breaking of her finger. In a day, she'd be fine, but for now, a bandage wouldn't bother her terribly much.

"I don't know, honestly. I know that most of my particular breed aren't so much into following his court, but even when I've traveled to different countries, his reach has extended as far. It's maddening how the Serpiente still cling to him - really, who wants to follow a king these days?" she said aloud, addled over the entire ordeal.

She glanced up as the woman finished with her hand, in shocked silence as a woman appeared behind Stefan and spoke. Victoria's eyes narrowed a little at the sight of her - it was a Golden hawk. How on Earth had he come into possession of something so rare? Victoria had known him for a short while, but she'd never garnered his penchant for extremely rare pets. She wondered off-hand if she'd come to the right place, after all, but she refused to let her nerves work her off of the only ally, albeit shady, she had.

[Stefan]

He smiled as Desten entered, unable to avoid being proud of her.  She was an excellent acquisition, perfectly trained, beautiful, rare and absolutely exquisite.  He couldn't have done better, in his opinion.  Bringing her in front of Victoria had a delightful reaction as well, in both women.

"Desten, my dear, this is Victoria.  She's in some trouble and came to us for sanctuary.  I hope you'll make her feel welcome," he told his hawk, gesturing that she could approach Victoria if she pleased.  "Victoria, Desten is the lady of my household, and very nearly perfect.  If you have need of me, you need only tell her."

He wanted it clear that Desten was something he was proud of, but he also threw that in there to ensure that Victoria understood that any harm coming to Desten WOULD result in severe retaliation.  He didn't like displaying weak points, and he didn't feel that he really was.  Losing Desten wouldn't kill him because he wasn't in love with her, but he valued her rather highly, which shouldn't have been surprising.  She was wonderfully trained, beautiful and rare.  Replacing her would be practically impossible. 

[Victoria Kelly]

No, she didn't think she'd come to the right place at all - she smiled to Desten, however, unwilling to let Stefan shake her nerves any more than they'd already been. "She's lovely," she said, and she meant it. She watched Desten glide to her, eyes scrutinizing every inch of her, before a small breath escaped her lips. The Golden Hawk finally smiled back, as though Victoria had passed some sort of inspection, and then went to Stefan's side. Evidently she didn't prefer to be anywhere else, and Victoria was in some amazement.

She'd seen well-trained pets, but for fuck sake.

She gazed from Desten to Stefan, eyebrows raised. "How in the Hell did you come across her?" she asked, unable to stop herself. She knew people who would have paid dearly for such a creature - if Stefan told her the real story on how he'd acquired her, Victoria's head might absolutely explode. All the work she had to do to reel people in and bag them, and this one'd been sold in by a jealous sister?

If she'd have known that all it took was inciting sibling rivalry, she'd have done it long before she ever started actually kidnapping people.

[Stefan]

There was no way in Hell he was going to explain to Victoria, in front of Desten no less, how he'd come across her.  It wasn't as though Desten didn't know that her sister had been involved, but he didn't feel the need to even bring Vanille into Desten's mind.  Let her completely forget everything that came before him, just as he wanted.  He was pleased to see just how amazed Victoria was, however, and that showed in the smile that crossed his features.  Less politely pleasant, more smug.

"Desten was seeking a direction, and I gave it to her," he explained, glancing her way and resting a hand lightly on her shoulder before returning his blue eyes to Victoria.  "She suffered to become as perfect as she is, but it was entirely worth it, wasn't it, my dear?"

He was asking Desten once more, but still looking at Victoria.  He couldn't help but wonder what it'd be like to have her under his blade, and to calculate how long she'd take.  He had no doubt that he could do it, it was just a matter of time.  How long? 

[Victoria Kelly]

Desten raised her chin proudly as Stefan addressed her. "Of course it was," she trilled, holding a hand up to place it on Stefan's shoulder. She addressed Him in her mind, asking of course, for His permission, and then set her hand down gently. She felt better when she had a hold on Him, as though He centered her. "To have been granted the honour of being added to my Master's splendid collection was the best gift I could have asked for," she said simply, smiling.

Victoria withheld a small bubble of nervous laughter. She didn't wonder what Stefan had done to create the vision she saw before herself; she was familiar enough with most of Midnight trainers to know how it worked. If she wasn't, she'd never have become adept at finding them the perfect pets to break or tame.

"Amazing," she whispered to herself. She shook her head a little, and then glanced down at her hand, which by now was healing better than it had previously. She couldn't help but turn her gem-like eyes around the room, assessing her situation, before clearing her throat. "I suppose we should go and take care of the problem," she said slyly, meaning, of course, to dispense of the shifter she'd brought into Midnight months ago.

"I'm correct in assuming she's where I left her?" she asked lightly. Nobody would have bothered to move her, at any rate. The woman would be lucky if she'd been tended to at all, but Victoria imagined being such a high priority that she would have been at least fed.